Treatment and twelve-step strategies

The marriage of drug abuse treatment and twelve-step strategies

Research supports the idea that involvement with 12-step fellowships is a very good way to achieve and maintain recovery, but it is not for everyone.

Some research has indicated that although 12-step and other treatment approaches are compatible, patients’ level of commitment or engagement in prescribed behaviors is very low.

They stress that some way must be found to get patients engaged and committed and that the 12-step affiliation needs to be considered an important, rather than a casual, part of treatment.

Patients, many of whom have already been attending meetings before entering treatment, must recognize that 12-step organizations, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), are social organizations with a way of living with a program and a fellowship.

At the end of formal treatment, patients must become engaged in and committed to the processes of 12-step programs.

Research report; Forman, R.F.; Humphreys, K.; Tonigan, J.S. Response: The marriage of drug abuse treatment and twelve-step strategies. Science and Practice Perspectives, 2(1):52-54, 2003.

Brief-TSF is designed to increase levels of commitment to recovery.